Maria is next Bersih chairperson

As the only one nominated to contest for the top post, Maria Chin has won uncontested.
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KUALA LUMPUR: Come December Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah will take over the helm from current co-chairpersons S Ambiga and A Samad Said with no one else nominated for the post.

Elections for the steering committee is on Nov 30.

Announcing the details of the elections today, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall secretary-general Stanley Yong said Maria was the only candidate nominated for the top post and that she had won uncontested.

Other than Maria, four other national level Bersih steering committee members will be elected on Nov 30 in the Petaling Jaya Community Library while six regional representatives will be elected after the national level election.

Sixteen representatives from Bersih’s endorsing organisations will be electing the five individuals as office bearers.

Each endorsing organisation is eligible as one voter and is required to name one voting representative who will cast the ballots on its behalf.

“Each organisation may also send up to two observer delegates to accompany the voter,” said Yong.

As for the nominees, Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) founder Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa will face Pemantau coordinator Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh for the vice chairperson post.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) board member Masjaliza Hamzah and Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (Ikram) central executive committee member Nahar Md Nor will vie for the treasurer position.

Five people have been nominated for the steering committee members with portfolio positions. However, only two will be elected.

These people include Suaram chairperson K Arumugam, Tindak Malaysia’s Ng Chak Ngoon, Suaram Ops Scorpene Team committee member Farhana Halim, Bersih steering committee member Hishamuddin Rais and lawyer New Sin Yew.

Transparent election

Meanwhile, three individuals sit on the committee that will oversee the polls.

Other than Yong, senior human rights lawyer Roger Chan and former member of the Human Rights Commission Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah will oversee the running of the national level steering committee election.

Members of the committee act as individuals and not as representatives of their affiliated organisations.

Chan said that it was important for them to be independent and non-partisan.

“We will treat all candidates fairly and equally. The committee is premised upon integrity.

“We will therefore conduct the election without fear or favour and with complete transparency,” he promised.

Yong then declared that the campaign period for the national level election is thus open and must end at midnight, Nov 29.

He added that postal voting is also available for endorsing organisations in Sabah and Sarawak whose voting representatives cannot be physically present at the polling centre on Nov 30 due to financial constraints.

“Postal ballots will be mailed today and returned ballots must reach the secretariat before Nov 30,” he said.

Short biographies of the nominees and a list of endorsing organisations are available at the Bersih website www.bersih.org.